Trying to figure out the new bikes' place in the pecking order of super naked superiority has been made a little easier for 2021. It’s still not in the same league as bikes like the Tuono V4 or new Ducati Streetfighter V4, although it’s a fair chunk cheaper than both. For me, the new machine sits closer to bikes like Honda’s CB1000R, KTM 1290 Super Duke and even the boosted Kawasaki Z H2. Here we have a crop of naked bikes, all floating around the £15k mark, all making between 150 and 180bhp and, most importantly, all being bespoke-built, naked motorcycles, not sports bikes with fairings removed.
Placing the bike in this hotly contested pack I’d have to say it is up there as a serious contender for the outright winner of this theoretical group test. The level of spec as standard is extremely high, with electronics and adjustability through the new TFT that again set it apart. It’s also probably one of the most accessible machines in the class, partly thanks to the chunky torque and power and juicy delivery of that new 1200cc engine, but also due to its top-spec componentry and hardware Triumph has used.
It may not be perfect, with just a couple of small glitches in what is an otherwise very tasty motorcycle, but it is the best Speed Triple you’ll ever swing a leg over.
